Home Playball! Community Centre Help Wanted
We'd like to hear your views.
You can drop into the Community Centre or leave a message there or you can email us.
Please type the email address at the bottom of the page into your email.
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The Chirnside Development Group website is owned by Chirnside Development Group.
Chirnside Development Group was set up to progress two projects: an outdoor sports facility and an improved Community Centre. The reason that the projects were possible was the lodging of “planning gain” money with Scottish Borders Council in 2005. £50,000 was set aside for “community facilities at Chirnside in consultation with the local community” and £20,000 for “off site play provision.”
Legal Status
For the group to receive funding for developing the centre we need to be
a Company Limited By Guarantee, this is also essential for taking the
project forward and running a community centre.
The group has developed the documents to become a Community Company
which have been approved by the Scottish Government.
The Company will apply for charitable status and register with Companies
House.
The Company will be led by a board of directors and will require the
support of a wide membership. The Group are looking for all centre users
to sign up as members of the Community Company.
Becoming a community company sounds scary but it is actually a very
useful tool. Directors and members are protected from personal
liability. The Company can exercise the Community Right to Buy – where
the Company register an interest in property and/or land in the
community. The Company are then informed of any actions on that
registered item and have first option to buy at market price.
It is an essential tool to develop and sustain social enterprise.
BIG Lottery Fund – our bid
The group put in an outline proposal to the BLF which was approved.
We were then able to begin a full application.
That application needs to be complete and sent to the BLF by the end of
November 09.
We received a £10K grant to enable us to build that application – the
money is being used to employ the services of an architect and
accountant. The architect worked with the Group and users of the Centre
to come up with a preferred option for developing the Centre.
(see drawings)
This option is just that – an option – nothing is set in stone, but
it is essential for us to begin building a business plan.
The accountant is working with the group to build the business plan. We
have to consider build and running costs, development, fitting and staff
costs. We have to build a plan for income generation - so that as well
as income from community groups we encourage other income – we propose,
rentable office space, a gym, a high quality function room and kitchen.
It is essential that the project is a sustainable business. If it is
not, the Lottery will not award the funds.
For the project to succeed it will need the help of members of the
community. Please
visit the 'Help Wanted' page to see how you can
participate.
With the Playball! project successfully completed the Chirnside Development Group is now focussed on plans to provide the Community Centre Chirnside deserves.
This is a huge project that needs your support.